RELAXING BREAKS WORTH MORE THAN MONEY TO 84 PER CENT

The value of a good holiday goes way beyond money spent on accommodation, travel and activities for the large majority of holidaymakers, a recent study has indicated.

Kuoni travel and health charity Nuffield Health surveyed 2,845 UK adults between April 14 – June 30; finding that 84 per cent believe a trip away can positively contribute to their mental and physical well-being.

Amongst the advantages listed by those polled was the chance to break out of a weekly routine, possibly whilst enjoying a rare lie-in at an Isle of Wight hotel. Others said that holidays presented them with a chance to reconnect with a friend or family member, while the opportunity to relax and recharge was also noted.

The list of benefits should go some way to explaining why 32 per cent said a holiday is worth up to four times more than its quoted figure, with 27 per cent claiming they’d pay 10 times as much just to enjoy the same holiday, according to carrentals.co.uk.

Explaining the science behind their beliefs, Chris Jones, Nuffield Health’s Head of Physiology, told traveldailynews.com: “On a day to say basis, our bodies give us subtle physical signals for stress or tiredness that may be caused by our busy modern lives and we all intuitively know that a holiday can help us re-charge our batteries.”

Other readings from the study show that up to 23 per cent can only distance themselves from working life after three – four days; signifying just how important an annual getaway really is.

Commenting on this discovery, Mr Jones said: “The fact that two-thirds of people are taking up to four days to switch off may be an important indicator of how we manage stress from our everyday lives.”